Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-02
INC Great strike.

The Great strike.
The striks IL New York and Jersey
! City has reached enormous proportions.
| 1t is probable that not far from $4,000 men
are idle. How many more viii strike be-
| tore there is settlement OF pending
! troubles cannot be predicted with any de-
I gree of certainty. Trade OF almost ali
| kinds is seriously obsTucted. our dis
/ patches this morning state that the strike
ON the railroad wharves is the most so-i.
Gus blow the knights OF Labor have ever
dealt commerce.
Many OF the strikers DO not appear TO
have any grievance. Others have found
grievances since the difficulty between
the coal handlers and the coal companies
began. BY far the largest number, how
ever, has been called out by the leaders
Of the different labor organizations to
support the coal handlers.
In view of the greatness OF the strike,
and the immense losses it has already
caused those affected by 1t, a statement
at this time OF its origin may not be I'M
interesting. The coal handlers of the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at
Weehawken iDaugurated it. They were
receiving 22llc. an hour when they re-
ceiVed notice that their pay would be re-
duced almost Immediately to 20c. an hour.
They refused to submit to the reduction.
They declared they would quit work
rather than accept the latter price. In
support of their action they SAID that
even at the reduced rate they were
not given steady work. They were
required to be within call,
however, throughout the day,
10 accept any work the company might
have for them. They would, perhaps,
have accepted zoe. an hour with guar
antee OF steady WORK. The strike ex-
tended to the coal handlers at Hoboken
and Jersey City. They we're all dissatis-
ieG ard ware only waiting for favorable
opportunity 10 strike.
AS the strike gained strength and pro-
portions demand was made on the coal
companies for 25c. an hour, and, in some
instances. for soc. The demand for an
increase in wages was coupled with other
demands. The strikers said TO the com
panies: You have advanced the price of
although coal IS costing you no more
now than it did then. a part OF the in
crease by rights belongs to us. This argu-
ment had no influence Gu the companies.
They let their trained hands 20 and en-
deavOred to get along with new men.
In order TO cut of the supply OF coal
from other sources 'longshoremen, and
brakemen, and laborers on coal roads,
were induced TO strike. The Old Do
minion Steamship Company became
mixed up in the strike by reducing the
wages Of it's men from Zoe. an hour to
$l2 for sixty hours work. The men
struck for the union scale of SOC. an hour.
Vigorous war was made on the company.
Agents of steamship lines were threat
ened with strikes and boycotts if they
accepted any freight rendered by the Old
Dominion Company. In some instances
the agents acceded to the demands of the
str kars, and the manager of the Old
Dominion Company had the agents and
leaders of the strikers called into court
on civil suits for damaging his company.
Day by day the situation has become
more complicated. The number of strik-
ers has increased rapidly. Factories
have been compelled TO close their doors,
and transportation lines are either idle or
are operated under the greatest Difficult
ties. The labor organizations appear to
be determined to give the country an ex-
hibitiOn OF their power. There has been
little or no disorder OF any kind as yet,
but how long it will be before tne police
and even the militia will be needed no
one can say. Among the $4,000 idle men
there are many doubtless, who are hungry
and who have wives and children who
are hungry. Past experience justifes
the conclusion that serious disturbances
may be expected when hunger becomes
pinchink. 1t is to lie hoped that there
Will be settlement Of existing difficult
ties before that point is reached.